8-10-2023 (JAKARTA) Indonesia, a long-time supporter of the Palestinian cause, has expressed deep concern over the ongoing escalation of conflict between Israelis and Palestinians and called for an immediate end to the violence.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Indonesian foreign ministry stated, “Indonesia is deeply concerned with the escalation of conflict between Palestine and Israel. Indonesia urges the immediate end of violence to avoid further human casualties.”
Indonesia has consistently voiced its support for the Palestinian struggle to achieve independence. The statement emphasized that the root cause of the conflict, namely the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, must be resolved in accordance with the parameters agreed upon by the United Nations.
As the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, Indonesia has also made it clear that it has no interest in establishing diplomatic ties with Israel.
In March, FIFA revoked Indonesia’s rights to host the Under-20 World Cup due to public protests and opposition from several politicians regarding Israel’s participation in the tournament.
The recent surge in violence resulted from a large-scale attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which led to the deaths of more than 200 Israelis, according to the Israeli army. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to reduce the group’s Gaza hideouts to rubble, with intense Israeli airstrikes in the coastal enclave causing at least 232 Palestinian casualties, according to Gaza officials. This marks one of the deadliest escalations in the conflict in decades.
Western capitals have strongly condemned the wave of attacks by Hamas, which is considered a terrorist group by Israel, the United States, and the European Union.
